Thread Legends: Athletes

Even If You Suck At Sports, You Can At Least Dress Like Your Favorite Athlete

This article is presented by Lauren Ralph Lauren, available at Macy's.

Today’s athletes wear many hats. Off the field or court, they’re often expected to be role models, businessmen and philanthropists. Some of them, as it turns out, are style icons as well. You may not have time to pour over the styles found at red carpet events or magazine shoots, but that’s what we’re for. In Thread Legends, we teamed up with Macy’s and Lauren Ralph Lauren to find some the best looks in professional sports and show you how to make them your own. While it might not make you a better athlete, your style game will be on-point.

Tom Brady

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When you’re married to one of the most beautiful and stylish women in the world, it goes without saying that there’s no room for slacking off when it comes to your threads. Thankfully for Patriots QB Tom Brady, he has the movie star looks to go with his hall of fame arm, and he makes the most of them by showing up to red carpet events wearing things like this classic-fit black tuxedo and you can pull it off with this one from Lauren Ralph Lauren. While best left to more formal events, the black tux is an ideal way to up your game without resorting to more garish attention-grabs. Stick with a traditional shirt and tie combo, and let the suit do the talking.

Muhammad Ali

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He wasn't nicknamed "The Greatest" for nothing. Cassius Clay was not only one of the most talented and flashy fighters in the history of boxing, but he was also one of the most stylish. He was always able to talk the talk and walk the walk, and even though chances are you won't be able to fight like him, you can at least emulate his sense of style. So float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, and rock this zig-zag patterned tie from Lauren Ralph Lauren like a champ.

David Beckham

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Former soccer superstar David Beckham is as renowned for his style as he is for his skills on the soccer pitch, and for good reason — when your wife’s nickname is “Posh,” you’d better look good. What he’s showing us here is that the right suit jacket can make the man. Becks' look can can be replicated with this plaid patterned sport coat from Lauren Ralph Lauren, but good luck replicating his charisma and good looks.

LeBron James

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Cavaliers forward LeBron James is many things — the best player in the NBA, a business mogul, etc. He also happens to be a well-dressed dude. Here, he’s showing us why there’s no reason brown can't be a sweet looking suit color. It's not the classic black or the modern blue, but a brown suit jacket looks really slick when worn over a classic white button up, and you'll feel like a king in this brown plaid slim-fit sport coat from Lauren Ralph Lauren.

Cristiano Ronaldo

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If you’ve followed Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo’s exploits, you know that he’s about as popular as it gets with the ladies. Sure, his good looks, fame and piles of money have something to do with that, but it doesn’t hurt that he knows how to rock a classic tuxedo. Formalwear is the one area where you don’t necessarily win bonus points for taking risks — keep the lines tight, and keep the colors the traditional black and white. Pair this look from Lauren Ralph Lauren with a black bow tie and you’re done — it's that easy.

Joe DiMaggio

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Baseball Hall of Famer and lifelong New York Yankee Joe DiMaggio was known for rounding the bases both on and off the field. It would have to take a very special and well-dressed man to slide into home with Marilyn Monroe. This wool olive sport coat from Lauren Ralph Lauren can make you look as close to Joltin'Joe as possible, but it unfortunately doesn't guarantee you put up the same numbers on the field — and with the ladies.

Derrick Rose

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There are certain times when wearing a suit is a non-negotiable requirement, even when you’d rather not. Instead of sweating through the same gray wool suit at your next wedding, take a cue from Bulls guard Derrick Rose and go with a light-colored, tropical weight suit. Not only will you be more comfortable, but showing up in seasonally appropriate formal attire subtly says “Yes, I’m the kind of guy who’s savvy enough to own more than one suit.”

George Best

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Sometimes, we have no choice but to dress in accordance with the occasion. That’s even true of former Manchester United bad boy George Best, who famously quipped that he “...spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered.” Even when buttoned up, however, Best managed to exude cool, partially thanks to the classic striped dress shirt. The vertical stripes give the classic button-up some detail, and could be matched with a slim tie to further class up your look.

Michael Jordan

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Being the greatest of all-time comes with its fair share of attention and being in the spotlight means having to look your best. Michael Jordan, the Michael Jordan of basketball, certainly did just that. You may not be able to be like Mike on the court, but this yellow textured solid tie from Lauren Ralph Lauren can bring you one step closer to greatness when paired with a darker-tone suit.

Henrik Lundqvist

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If you don’t think NHL players are down with fashion, Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist would like to have a word with you. Consistently voted among the best-dressed athletes in the world, Lundqvist wears a suit as well as he protects the five-hole. Next time you suit up, follow his lead and opt for something that has a little something going on. In this case it’s an eye-catching checkered pattern that the most stylish men can pull off. We're pretty confident you can pull it off too with this bold madras sport coat from Lauren Ralph Lauren.

Tyson Chandler

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The ladies have complicated rules when it comes to white. It’s only acceptable to wear between Memorial Day and Labor Day, but then there’s something called a “winter white?” What gives? For us, it’s fairly simple: White pants are for the summer months, and if you can make them look as cool as Phoenix Suns center Tyson Chandler with this pair from Lauren Ralph Lauren, all the better. Though Chandler is 7’1”, the exposed ankle is no accident. Is it right to wear them with no socks and dress shoes? It’s not wrong…

John McEnroe

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Intensity. That's what most people think of when it comes to tennis starJohn McEnroe. He wasn't known for his exquisite finesse at the net, but he was still one of the most successful, popular, and stylish tennis players of all time. Pop the collar, and channel his off the court look with this peacoat from Lauren Ralph Lauren — just don't try and emulate that hairstyle.

Dwayne Wade

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Accessories can make or break an outfit. You may think that they're not that big of a deal when it comes to your entire look, but NBA superstar Dwyane Wade proves that theory wrong. Although you most likely can't kill it as he does with his bright blue blazer and distressed jeans, but you can still polish off your outfit with this brown casual leather belt from Lauren Ralph Lauren.

Arnold Palmer

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Golfers get a bad rap for the stereotypes that have followed them around for years. Goofy hat, high socks and all-plaid everything. But within the last two decades, they've adopted a more stylish and wearable look while applying their sporting craft. Emulate Arnold Palmer, one of the world's best golfers, with these charcoal plaid classic-fit dress pants from Lauren Ralph Lauren for a stylish look that will impress on and off the links.

Cam Newton

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The NFL is full of stylish men these days, and Panthers QB Cam Newton consistently ranks among the league’s best-dressed. What Newton’s showing us here is that the traditional blue blazer/khaki combination isn’t just for country clubs and drinks by the waterfront. Elevate the mood (and your look) by opting for an unstructured blazer with a little pizazz and texture, and then pair it with these Lauren Ralph Lauren khaki-colored corduroy dress pants to create visual interest. Dress it up like Cam does here with a tie, or the blazer looks equally good with a neutral V-neck underneath.

Lewis Hamilton

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How cool is it that there's a job out there based around driving really fast? And when it comes to the coolest guy on the track these days, you can't look past Lewis Hamilton. Having just won the Japanese Grand Prix and tying the legendary Ayrton Senna's 41 race wins, you too can look like you belong on the podium by donning this evening classic-fit jacket from Lauren Ralph Lauren. Just stick to the speed limit, please.

Kevin Durant

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While perhaps not as prolific as his teammate, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant can hold his own in the fashion department. While blue has become a popular tuxedo option, there’s no reason it can’t work in a regular suit, like it does with this piece from Lauren Ralph Lauren. The way Durant wears it also helps point out the blue suit’s versatility: It looks great when dressed up with a tie, obviously, but it still shines when taken down a notch and paired with an open-collar shirt.

Lionel Messi

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How does one who is widely considered to be the best in the world dress when he's not nutmegging defenders? In style of course. Barcelona FC striker and triple Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi rocks a flashy suit just like you and me — except that he's legit superhuman. You can replicate the look with this smooth, velvet burgundy sport coat from Lauren Ralph Lauren and hope that somehow looking like him means playing like him (it doesn't).

Tom Landry

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Even though he was selected for a Pro Bowl in 1954, Landry really made his mark on the sidelines as the Super Bowl-winning head coach of the Dallas Cowboys and you can channel that class through this Lauren Ralph Lauren sport coat. Although he's known mostly for that famous fedora, not everyone can pull that look off, so opt for this wool 2-button blazer instead.

Victor Cruz

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Along with catching footballs, New York Giants receiver Victor Cruz is a great dancer and an even better dresser. Hopefully Cruz will be on the field for more than six games this year, and if not then at least he'll be killing it on red carpets. Attend a couple of salsa dancing lessons, then rock this tan linen vest under a brown or tan sport coat wherever you can and be more like the 2010 Super Bowl winner.